Overview

• The Trump administration has withdrawn $400 million in federal grants and contracts from Columbia University, citing its handling of antisemitism on campus.
• A federal task force will review Columbia's grants, and other universities, including Harvard, are being monitored for similar actions.
• Harvard University has implemented a temporary hiring freeze, pointing to financial uncertainties due to shifting federal policies.
• Jewish leaders and organizations are divided over supporting the administration's measures, with some warning of threats to democracy and free speech.
• Critics argue that the administration's actions, including the detention of a pro-Palestinian activist, undermine civil liberties and academic freedom.